Cup and saucer dispenser



Dec. 17, 1957 N. A. HAINES 2,816,808

CUP AND SAUCER DISPENSER Filed June 22, 1954 2 Shees-Sheet l Il IH' 38Nicholas/4. Haines IN VEN TOR.

Fig-2 BY Dem 17, 1957 N. A, HAlNEs 2,816,808

CUP AND SAUCER DISPENSER Filed June 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 38 i4Fig.3

United Sttes Patent O CUP AND SAUCER DISPENSER Nicholas A. Haines,Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,476

Z Claims. (Cl. 312-71) The present invention relates to a dispenser forstacked articles and is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 243,803, filed August 27, 1951, and nowabandoned, for Cup and Saucer Dispenser.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dispenser forstacked articles, such as cups and saucers, comprising a novel guideframe and housing forming a well in which there is resiliently supporteda removable platform.

A highly important object in the invention, ancillary to the primaryobject, is in the provision of a novel resiliently suspended platformand platform guide structure for the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a dispenser forstacked articles wherein all of the resilient suspension means and theguiding means for the stacked article dispensing platform are disposedexteriorly of the well formed in the dispenser so that the entire Wellcross sectional area may be utilized to support stacked articles forvertical movement within the dispenser.

A last object of the invention to be mentioned specifically is in theprovision of an exceedingly simple and economical stacked articledispenser utilizing a novel cooperating guide arrangement between themovable platform and the dispenser housing, the entire assembly beingreadily discerptible, all moving parts being available for quick andsimple replacement, and which dispenser is exceptionally strong anddurable in use.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stacked article dispenserconstituting the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective View of the elements of thedispenser;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the dispenseron an enlarged scale taken substantially along the plane of section line3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser taken substantiallyalong the plane of section line 4--4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed View in cross-section of the attachmentof the springs to the movable platform of the dispenser.

In the drawings and particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings, thestacked article dispenser constituting the present invention is seen toconsist essentially of a skeleton frame 12, housing 14 and resilientlysuspended platform 16. When necessary or expedient, a stacked articlesupporting rack base 18 may be disposed on the resiliently suspendedplatform 16. The assembled stacked article dispenser, as shown in Figurel, is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10.

The skeleton frame 12 is comprised of an open, rectan gular base 20 toeach corner of which is secured the lower ice end of a vertical cornerpost 22. Each of the corner members 22 is preferably angle shaped incross section and may conveniently comprise an angle iron. An open framerectangular top 24 is secured at its corners to the tops of the cornerposts 22 of the skeleton frame. The top 24 of the skeleton frame isprovided with an outwardly extending, flat, peripheral ange 26.

Suspended from the underside of the peripheral ange 26 on opposite sidesof the top frame 24at longitudinally spaced intervals along each ofthese sides are a plurality of resilient, coil springs 28. Initially,prior to the assembly of the device, the lower ends of the springs arefree.

The housing 14 is of generally the same construction as the skeletonframe 12 comprising a rectangular base 30 and vertical corner posts 32rising from the corners of the base. The corner posts 32 are angleshaped in cross section. The top 34 of the housing 14 is received overthe upper portions of the corner posts 32 and provides side walls 36surrounding the upper portion of the housing. The remaining portion ofeach side of the housing is open between the corner posts 32.

Housing 14 is telescopically received within the skeleton frame 12, thetop 34 of the housing being formed with an outwardly extending fiatperipheral ange 38 seating against the top surface of the peripheralflange 26 of the skeleton frame.

When the skeleton frame 12 and housing 14 are so assembled, they conformgenerally to the showing in Figure 1 with the exception that theplatform 16 has not yet been applied.

The hollow interior of the housing 14 forms a vertical well 4t) throughthe housing. The top 34 of the housing constituting an open rectangularframe, provides a top opening communicating with the well 40.

The platform 16 is composed of a plurality of spaced, parallel, rigidchannels of a length greater than the width of the well 40. Intermediatethe ends of these strips or elements 42 they are connected by transversecross members 44.

In this condition, the platform 16 is inserted through the top openinginto the well 4i) so that the end portions of the channel elements 42project through the opposite side openings of the housing 14. Then, endcross members 46 are attached to the free ends of the elements 42, theseend cross members being each disposed exteriorly of the housing 14 inposition to respectively slidably bear against the outside surfaces ofcorner posts 32. These cross members 46 overlie the sides of the housingformed by the corner post legs on opposite sides of the verticalopenings defined by the corner posts to guidingly retain the platform 16for vertical sliding movement within the housing well 40.

Clamping plates 4S, secured to the end cross members 46, engage thelower convolutions of the springs 28 and clamp them on the cross members46.

The stacked article dispenser as thus assembled is ready for use and therack supporting base 18 may be simply disposed on the platform 16 and arack of cups or saucers, or the like, as designated at 50 in Figure lmay be placed on this rack supporting base 18.

The guide arrangement of this dispenser assembly for the platformprovides a smooth, even motion to the platform even when the load isunbalanced since the spacing of the end members 46 exteriorly of thewell in engagement with the corner posts 32 of the housing obviates anytendency for longitudinal rocking movement and enables the continuationof the sliding movement of the platform even should such longitudinalimbalance tilt the platform. Further, it will be noted that because thecross members 46 bear against the outside surfaces of corner posts 32,the platform is adequately guided even though unbalanced loads may tendto depress one side of the platform somewhat more than the `other side.Further, the coil springs are exteriorly ofthe housing and the skeletonframe where they may be easily replaced, serviced, and repaired.

Also, 4with this construction, the skeleton frame may be initiallylplaced in thecounter opening, or the like, in fixed relation theretosothat ythe housing may be easily removed without disturbing thesurrounding building structure, such as the counter, for replacement orcomplete removal.

The'above description and the drawings illustrate clearly the manner inwhich the major parts of my cup and saucer dispenserare assembled.Exteriorly, there is the skeleton frame 12 to which the upper ends ofthe springs 28 are secured. The housing 14 is then telescopicallyinserted within the skeleton frame and assumes its position as shown inFigs. 1 and 3 to form the well and to provide side -walls 36 to concealand guard the springs from the cups, saucers, or other pay load carriedby the platform. It will be obvious that when, for any reason, springsare to be removed or replaced, the housing 14 may be telescopicallyremoved from the skeleton frame so as to expose the springs and theirmountings for ready access. Furthermore, the exposure of these workingparts by the removal of the housing 14 facilitates cleaning andinspection as to sanitation in the event that leakage has occurred atthe point of assembly of my dispenser in the counter as shown.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A dispenser for stacked articles comprising a housing having a top, abase, vertically extending guide elements interconnecting said top andbase and peripheral side Walls depending from said top, said guideelements being disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, saidtop having an opening therethrough communicating with the space boundedby said guide elements, a carrier for stacked articles verticallyreciprocable in said housing, said carrier having end portionsprojecting between said guide elements and terminating exteriorly ofsaid housing, a skeleton frame shaped to telescopically receive saidhousing therein and having a hat, peripheral, top ange, resilientsprings depending from said flange in guarded position relative to saidside walls when the skeleton frame and housing are in telescopicassembly, transverse cross members across said carrier end portions andslidably engaging said guide elements, each of said springs beingattached to one of said cross members resiliently suspending saidcarrier within said housing.

2. A dispenser for stacked articles comprising a hollow housing having atop and a base and a vertical well therein, said top having an openingtherein communicating with said well, a skeleton frame shaped totelescopically receive said housing and having a top flange around theperiphery thereof, said top llange abutting the underside of saidhousing top, said housing having vertical openings in opposite sidesthereof, a platform slidably disposed in said housing well, saidplatform having end portions extending through said `vertical openings,cross members on said end portions extending transversely across saidend portions and slidably overlying the sides of said housing onopposite sides of said openings, resilient springs suspended from theunderside of said skeleton frame top flange and attached at their freeends to said cross members, the sides of said housing adjacent the topthereof being provided with complete side walls in protective relationto the springs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,692Schmidt Dec. 17, 1895 769,963 Sexton Sept. 13, 1904 1,638,181 Bell Aug.9, 1927 1,749,233 Scott Mar. 4, 1930 2,284,225 Norris May 26, 19422,306,385 Herter Dec. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS v422,463 France Jan. 19,1911 684,728 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1952

